Radiation Invasion

RUNWAY

RADIATION INVASION - An intercontinental phone conversation was what suddenly made Iris van Herpen contemplate the innumerable flows of digital information that surround us in the form of rays at every moment and in every place. Moreover, in spite of their ubiquity, we can receive them only using special equipment.

In Radiation Invasion, she gives expression to the idea that some day we may be ale to perceive those rays ourselves and even mentally manipulate them, developing new dimensions around our bodies. In these designs the wearer seems to be surrounded by a frozen complex of wavy rays, flickering patterns, or vibrating particles, which then go their own way in an endless and constantly moving universe. The wavy textures developed for collection is her representation of how it would look if we could control the radiation waves like a magnet, attracting and repelling, adding layers of immaterial beauty towards the female form.

This collection was created in collaboration with artist Bart Hess, who developed the motorized serpentine fleece, and with Irene Bussemaker, who was responsible for the mask made of snake bones.